What You Need to Know About New QR Code for Cars in Louisiana

I was kind of shocked the other day to see a pretty big discussion on social media by folks looking for a place in Shreveport to get an inspection sticker. You no longer have to have an inspection sticker in Louisiana.

Governor Jeff Landry signed House Bill 1085 into law. This new law phases out the state's traditional annual safety inspection sticker and replaces it with a streamlined QR code decal system.  But there is still so much confusion. Folks don't know what to do if their current inspection sticker is about to expire.

When Does the Change Go into Effect

Louisiana officially launches this transition on January 1, 2027. This means there will be no more inspection stations in the state. Instead, you will get a QR code when you renew your vehicle registration.

The Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) will send these new stickers out with your renewal. The QR code can be used to link to vehicle registration records. It will allow law enforcement officers to scan the windshield decal to verify registration status, proof of insurance, and active warrants.

How Much Will the QR Code Cost

You will pay $6 dollars a year for the QR code as compared to $10 a year for the inspection stickers. So, you will actually save a little money.

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Where Do You Put the QR Code Sticker

Drivers will be required to place the new QR code sticker in the bottom-left corner of the windshield, keeping it next to the existing vehicle identification number (VIN) display for quick scanning access.  This is on the drivers side of the car, right where we now put inspection stickers.

A state-mandated grace period is already underway to ease the transition. Effective from June 30, 2026, through January 1, 2027, law enforcement officers are prohibited from issuing tickets to drivers for failing to display a current inspection sticker, giving residents plenty of breathing room as the old program is phased out.